Which biome is characterized by permafrost and limited vegetation near the poles?

• A. Tundra
• B. Polar Biome
• C. Desert
• D. Temperate Forest

Answer: (B)

Permafrost and sparse plant life near the poles point to the tundra. In tundra regions the ground stays frozen most of the year, with only the top layer thawing in a brief summer, which keeps soils too cold and shallow for trees to take root. That climate supports only low, hardy vegetation like mosses, lichens, grasses, and small shrubs, resulting in a landscape with limited vegetation. A term like polar biome isn’t a precise scientific label for a single biome, while deserts and temperate forests have very different moisture and temperature patterns and support much different communities. So the tundra best fits a landscape defined by permafrost and limited vegetation at high latitudes.